PORKY'S REVENGE (1985)
Label: 88 Films
Rating: Cert. 15
Region Code: B
Duration: 93 Minutes
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio: English DTS-HA MA 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles
Director: James Komack
Cast: Dan Monahan, Wyatt Knight, Tony Ganios, Mark Herrier, Kaki Hunter, Scott Colomby, Nancy Parsons, Chuck Mitchell
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
Synopsis: Long-demanded by fans of the franchise, and by followers of eighties sex comedies in general, PORKY'S REVENGE was released in1985 and marked the conclusion of the blockbuster teen-centred trilogy. In this hilarious and superior sequel the boys from Angel Beach High School are in their senior year, but when old enemy "Porky" steamrolls back into town with his illegal casino and brothel, the likeable - and every horny - lads find themselves tied-up in an unwelcome plan to compromise the upcoming basketball game! Adding to the headaches is an unwanted marriage, old acquaintances, bad dates and the usual hormonal overload (thanks to the presence of the frequently topless Playboy Playmate Kimberly Evenson) that one would expect from a PORKY'S movie.
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
Porky's Revenge (1985), the only film in the trilogy not directed by Bob Clark (Deathdream), is the third and final entry in the boner-riffic teen-sex trilogy, a series I enjoyed when I was way too young, like so many I would imagine. Thinking back on it the original film was probably the movie that inspired my earliest jerk-off session. it was either that or watching scrambled porn on cable TV, either way it was definitely in that youthful period of adolescent self-discovery. In their final horny adventure the boys from Angel Beach High School are finishing up their senior year, and looking a bit like early-thirties Pro Golf Shop employees, no disrespect to key players Pee Wee (Dan Monahan, Up The Creek), Billy (Mark Herrier), Tommy (Wyatt Knight), Meat (Tony Ganios, The Wanderers), Brian (Scott Colomby) and Wendy (Kaki Hunter) - but they all look like they should be teachers at Angel Beach, not students. Which is not to say they don't still bring the chuckles and charms that made us love them the first and second go round, but it's no surprise that this was the last entry in the series.
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
Call me a nutter but I actually think this entry is just a tiny bit better than the Porky's II: The Next Day in that it features the return of the titular Porky (Chuck Mitchell, Better Off Dead), who after having his bar decimated by the boys has moved his gambling/brothel operations offshore onto a gambling river boat, one baring the familiar neon sign that promises some pig on pig fornication. The boys are also dealing with a few multi-faceted issues, such as dealing with the repercussions of getting caught watching a stag film at school by their arch-nemesis Ms. Balbricker (Nancy Parsons, Motel Hell), and Pee Wee has a hard-on for the Swedish exchange student Inga (Playboy Playmate Kimberly Evenson, The Big Bet). They're also trying to get their beloved basketball coach Mr. Goodenough (Bill Hindman) out of gambling debt with Porky, not helping is that beefy Meat bangs Porky's homely-but-horny daughter Blossom (Wendy Feign), which might lead to a shotgun wedding. On top of all that the basketball team has made it to the state championships but they might have to throw it to appease an angry Porky, and a pair adulterous teachers are trying to keep Meat from playing in the Big Game. It's just another wild series of vignettes that are sophomorically entertaining but don't add up to much and pale when stacked-up against the original film, which is still one of my favorite teen sex comedies.
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
Considering that the film was not written or directed by franchise creator Bob Clark the film manages to admirably ape the tone and feel of the previous films, but it does lack the boisterous raunch and humor that Clark brought to the first film, but it does at least brings back the key players, including Eric "Tallywacker" Christmas as Principle Carter, and titular Porky who was missing from the second film.
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
Audio/Video: The series capper to this teen-sex threesome arrives on region B locked Blu-ray from 88 Films in 1080p HD framed in 1.85:1 widescreen. I have the Kino Lorber double-feature of Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge so I was able to do a comparison (check out the screen caps throughout the review), and for those of you who were disappointed at the lack of a fresh new scan from Kino you won't be too thrilled by what you find here either. This seems to be the same dated master we;ve seen before, the image is soft, it's thick with unsightly grain lacks clarity and detail. I will say that the 88 Films Blu-ray does look less bright in places and the grain is marginally less intrusive in the darker scenes and skin tones look slightly warmer, but only a smidgen, the difference is negligible.
The English DTS-HA MA 2.0 Stereo audio sounds alright for the most part with limited dynamic range, but the dialogue and soundtrack selections from George Harrison, Carl Perkins, The Crawling King, and Dave Edmunds sound good in the mix, optional English subtitles are provided.
TOP: 88 Films Blu-ray
BOTTOM: Kino Blu-ray
While the A/V unfortunately does not advance considerably over the US release from Kino Lorber but what 88 Films do offer are a pair of welcome new extras, the Kino release offered only a pair of trailers for the films. We begin with an enjoyable conversation with film critic Kim Newman, who is always a pleasure to see on a set of extras, he discusses the blockbuster success of the teen-sex comedy, how it was inspired by the retro-teen success of American Graffiti, which also inspired the Lemon Popsicle films, which were remade for American audiences as The Last American Virgin. Newman also touches on Bob Clark's impressively varied filmography, and goes through a few other films from the brief teen-sex comedy cycle, pointing out that the stars of teen-sex comedies - with very few exceptions - did not go onto bigger careers as did some of their peers in slasher films. I am not used to hearing Newman discuss anything other than horror so this was a nice change of pace, seated on that same quilt-covered couch he seem to always be sitting in front of with a hodgepodge of books, music and movies behind him.
We also get a new interview with co-star Wendy Feign who plays Porky's daughter, speaking about the audition for the role, shooting her nude scene and enjoying how the guy's had to get nude for the film, and working with the main cast who were all nice and down to earth. She also goes into some detail about a few of her scenes that were cut out of the film, and meeting her stunt double Luke Halpin, whom she had a crush on as a young girl when he starred in TV series Flipper. The last of the disc extras is a trailer for the film.
If you ordered directly from the 88 Films web site this release came with a limited edition collector’s booklet with writing on the film from Dr. Calum Waddell, plus and a slipcase with the original U.S. theatrical art and a reversible sleeve of artwork. The disc itself featuring the logo with a pair of basketballs on a white background.
Special Features:
- First Print Run Slipcase and Booklet
- High School Nights - Teens in the Eighties: An Interview with Film Critic Kim Newman (16 min)
- Porky's Daughter: An Interview with Actress Wendy Feign (26 min)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2 min)
- Reversible Cover Artwork
- Limited Edition Booklet Notes by Calum Waddell
The more I watch Porky's Revenge (1985) the more I enjoy it, I didn't initially love it the first time I watched it as a teen, but the patina of this vintage teen-sex comedy has improved considerably with age, and I now rank it as the second best in the series. The 88 Films Blu-ray doesn't offer a huge leap in quality over the Kino Blu-ray but we do get some nifty new extras and keen artwork options, making this the most desirable version yet.
